“We did it!! We did it!”
“Yeah!! We did it, we fucking did it!”
“Hahaha! Wow, really, wow! Hey!!”
Adelaide’s team was in a festive mood.
They rushed to the representative who showed brilliant skills at the end, showering him with praise, and hugged each other while cheering.
However, where there were winners, there were also losers.
The members of the other two teams all had unpleasant expressions.
Bewilderment, frustration, anger, grief—various emotions quickly flashed across their faces.
This was entirely natural, but in this case, the problem was that the number of winners was too small, and conversely, the losers were too many.
Most of the people in the arena had scowling faces, while only a few were joyfully celebrating.
The knight commander, who acted as the referee, squinted his eyes.
The air is unsettling.
The reason was simple.
Although the match had somehow been decided, the losers couldn’t accept it in their hearts.
Well, some had come to accept it, but they seemed to be just a few.
There were no noticeable complaints or criticisms of the winners, but that was all.
Even if this match officially ended here, it didn’t seem like the losers would sincerely acknowledge the winners and respect their authority.
The knight commander pondered.
If the conclusion of this match became ambiguous and caused another dispute, it would negatively affect the count’s authority who oversaw the match.
As the representative in charge of Tik-Tok’s military power, he was about to step forward to change the atmosphere, even if somewhat forcefully, when at that moment.
“Count, I would like to make a request.”
An old man with faded golden hair.
Gerhardt stepped onto the stage and opened his mouth.
While everyone was flustered, the count, who had been watching the match from the best seat, asked back while still seated, “A request. What kind of request?”
“Before closing the curtain on this stage, I would like you to grant a small reprieve.”
The murmuring around increased.
Asking not to end it when all the matches were over was a request loaded with many implications.
The count spoke ambiguously, “Strange. Didn’t you swear before the match that you would accept whatever result came out?”
“I do not seek to deny the result. However, as things stand, my comrades and I will be leaving Tik-Tok. Before that happens, there’s one last thing I wish to do.”
Gerhardt raised his arm, pointing towards where the Tin Knight was for all to see.
“That doll—no, that knight. I wish to have a match with him.”
Some people in the place widened their eyes at Gerhardt officially using that title.
This stubborn and opinionated old man, who had expressed that magic dolls were nothing more than toys, referred to the opponent as a “knight”.
That alone was surprising enough, but he even bowed his head to the count to request a duel, so those who knew Gerhardt’s character couldn’t help but be astonished.
A smile of interest formed on the count’s lips, which had been ambiguous throughout.
“So it’s not denying the match itself, but rather seeking an additional bout outside the official match. Lending the place isn’t too difficult. However, shouldn’t we hear the other side’s opinion as well?”
At the count’s words, people’s gazes turned towards the Tin Knight.
But the Tin Knight had no mouth.
Therefore, it was Adelaide’s role to represent his will.
Adelaide, who had been staring blankly at the Tin Knight, was startled by a voice that only she could hear.
“W-wait a moment. Sir Knight, qre you serious?”
After listing words like impossible or unfeasible towards the knight for a while, she finally opened her mouth, seemingly unable to overcome the knight’s stubbornness, “Um, ahem. I will convey Sir Knight’s will. ‘I accept his challenge. However, if this is to be the final battle on the stage to determine the true master of the dojo, a simple one-on-one match will not suffice.’”
Everyone focused on each syllable coming out of Adelaide’s mouth.
“‘This was originally a match where three representatives faced each other with their pride at stake. Gerhardt, if only you and I compete while the other is excluded, that would be the height of unjust.’”
René, who had been unexpectedly mentioned, showed a confused look, but Adelaide’s words weren’t over yet.
“‘So how about this? René von Lennart. Gerhardt von Lennart. Both of you come at us together. Adelaide and I will fend you off and prove our qualifications as winners once more.’”
After finishing that, Adelaide looked around nervously and added, “Uh, that... That’s all.”
Although Adelaide had tried hard to refine the “Tin Knight-style language” into a more classical feeling, she couldn’t change the fundamental message.
A duel is fine. But if you’re going to come at me, both of you come.
This was a shocking answer.
Considering that Gerhardt and René were skilled enough to serve as representative instructors of the dojo, it was a declaration that felt not just rude, but bordered insanity.
People expected Gerhardt to express anger, but he only twitched his eyebrow without shouting or losing his temper.
“That’s what he says. What are you going to do, brat?” without even turning his gaze, Gerhardt spoke.
A shadow fell beside him.
“With the stage set up , how could I dare refuse? It’s not like I want to ruin the event,” taking off his brimmed hat, René grumbled.
“You’re still concerned about trivial things like events. That’s why you’re no better than a clown, let alone being qualified enough to be a representative instructor. Pathetic fellow.”
“Let’s call it the virtue of a capable businessman. You have such a high nose despite being kicked out for failing at both management and people management.”
As the two stood side by side, someone who could no longer hold back began to act.
With heavy yet crisp footsteps much louder than those of an ordinary person, the Tin Knight landed on the stage.
Beside him stood Adelaide with a very tense expression.
The count rose from his chair and declared, “No rights are at stake in this match, and there is no absolute reason why this match must be held. However, I find this match extremely interesting!”
He spoke as if questioning the parties of the Lennart dojo, loud enough for everyone in this place to hear, “What about you!? Is a fight without gain worthless? Is a struggle without reward meaningless? Do you really feel no anticipation for the stage that’s about to unfold?”
No one raised their voice.
But the audience’s eyes showed their will more intensely than any voice could.
The count exclaimed cheerfully, “I’ve heard your answers well! Then let us all watch! Let us all anticipate! A conclusion that is sure to satisfy us all!”
Gerhardt, clad in rugged martial arts clothes, took a deep breath and widened his feet, front and back, taking a fighting stance.
As René, dressed in his ornate uniform, drew his rapier, the sharp blade that usually showed little presence boasted its existence.
The Tin Knight raised his sword and shield, and Adelaide gripped her sword with both hands.
“Let the extra match begin!!!”
Four shadows lunged at each other.
***The Lennart ducal family was one of the highest-ranking noble families in the Empire.
Their vast influence and authority bred intense power struggles and competition among blood relatives.
Gerhardt was a loser who had been pushed out in that competition.
Once, he had dreamed of becoming a hero surpassing their ancestor, the Lion Duke, but the times did not smile upon him.
His bloodline had become too mighty.
To maintain their position, it was judged that they needed versatile talents who were also excellent in governance and diplomacy, rather than those who excelled purely in martial strength.
Gerhardt’s martial strength was excellent, but not enough to make up for his shortcomings in political skills and the art of employing people.
He thought that those who couldn’t match him with pure strength were bringing strange things like management skills and reform to undermine his value.
That was why he denied René and his methods, and gathered those who shared his views to request a rematch.
Moreover, to an unexpected opponent, not even René.
Although he tried to act calm for the sake of his face and pride, his heart was burning like a flame.
He couldn’t accept it. He refused to let everything end .
At least, if nothing else.
He wanted to pour out somewhere all that he had built up over a long time—his trained body, the skills accumulated through pain and endurance, everything he thought of as “strength”.
And now, before Gerhardt’s very eyes stood an opponent with “strength” that even he had to acknowledge.
With a powerful battle cry, Gerhardt stepped forward.
He thrust out a knife-hand straight.
It looked like a simple punch, but the power contained in it was enough to shatter stone.
But the sound that this attack actually produced was far too light.
Gerhardt’s eyes widened.
Minute angle adjustment. A subtle relaxation of the body at the moment of impact.
It was shieldwork so masterful that even Gerhardt, who was on the receiving end, admired it.
The Tin Knight’s sword stretched out, aiming for Gerhardt’s throat.
It was an extremely efficient trajectory, with no waste whatsoever.
Gerhardt dodged in the nick of time, but a thin line of blood blossomed from his neck, regardless.
It was an attack so full of killing intent that one might want to ask if he knew this was a duel on stage, yet Gerhardt only grinned.
It wouldn’t be worth it if he weren’t at this level!
Even as blood flowed, far from retreating, Gerhardt clung even closer to the Tin Knight.
He extended his right leg to trip the Tin Knight’s legs while pushing his upper body with both arms, causing the Tin Knight’s heavy body to fall backward.
Gerhardt’s leg seemed to soar into the sky, then came crashing down.
A small crater formed on the smooth stone floor.
It was an unbelievable power to have been created just by a person stomping down, but even that meant nothing if it didn’t hit.
The Tin Knight, who had effortlessly rolled backward to break his fall, was charged at again by Gerhardt.
Thud, thud thud, thud thud thud!
A flurry of blows rained down as if not to give a chance for counterattack.
At a glance, it looked like he was compensating for lack of power with speed and technique, but some skilled individuals could see the truth.
Each of the attacks thrust out at short intervals was actually a terrifying attack that could crush a person’s skull.
Although the Tin Knight’s body wasn’t made of flesh and blood, even that mattered little.
Gerhardt was a man who could crumple even steel with his bare hands if he set his mind to it.
That was why it was even more shocking for Gerhardt to see the shield completely unscathed, not even a scratch, despite him unleashing attacks with all his might.
What answered Gerhardt’s question was the tingling pain felt in his wrist.
At the moment Gerhardt’s attack landed, the Tin Knight had twisted the shield ingeniously, bending Gerhardt’s wrist.
The moment the seemingly endless flurry of attacks was interrupted, the edge of the shield swung by the Tin Knight slammed into Gerhardt’s chest.
The impact forced the air out of his lungs, and his spit out of his mouth.
Although he had gathered mana instantaneously to receive it, preventing his ribs from being crushed, his body momentarily froze from the shock.
The moment Gerhardt stiffened his body to somehow avoid a fatal blow from the follow-up attack.
The Tin Knight, ignoring Gerhardt, threw himself between Adelaide and René.